Editing apparatus for optical disc reproducing device

ABSTRACT

A highlight of a representative track of each album stored in a recording medium and a highlight of each track of a designated album are pre-set. Highlights of representative tracks of albums are successively reproduced from album 1. As a result, albums are searched for a desired track. When the desired album has been found, highlights of tracks of the album are successively reproduced from track 1. As a result, the album is searched for the desired track.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/380,018,filed on Mar. 11, 2003, entitled EDITING APPARATUS FOR OPTICALREPRODUCING DEVICE which, in turn, claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 371and 37 CFR 1.495 to PCT/JP02/06406, filed Jun. 26, 2002, which, in turn,claims priority to Japanese application No. JP2001-211193 filed Jul. 11,2001.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus and an editingapparatus which allow a representative portion of a program to beregistered.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a method for temporarily storing a plurality of albumsin a hard disk drive (HDD) and reproducing audio data therefrom has beencommonly used. However, when a plurality of albums are stored in a HDD,it becomes difficult to select a desired album or a desired track andreproduce audio data therefrom.

To solve such a problem, a searching method for displaying album namesor track names on a display and allowing the user to search them for hisor her desired album or track on the display has been proposed.

However, when a large number of albums have been stored in the HDD, allalbum names and track names are not displayed on the screen at a time.Thus, the user should search them for his or her desired album name ortrack name while scrolling the screen. Thus, the user's operation forsearching for his or her desired album or track is troublesome.

In addition, since the user should search them for his or her desiredaudio data with only character information, not in an intuitive manner,it takes a long time to do that.

In addition, when a large number of albums have been recorded in theHDD, the user often has a difficulty to know his or her desired albumname or track name (music title). As a result, it was difficult for theuser to do that.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide areproducing apparatus and an editing apparatus which allow the user toeasily search for his or her desired album or track.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reproducingapparatus and an editing apparatus which allow the user to intuitivelysearch for his or her desired album or track.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a reproducingapparatus and an editing apparatus which allow the user to easily searchfor his or her desired album or track without need to know its name.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To solve the forgoing problem, an embodiment of the present invention isa reproducing apparatus for reproducing a plurality of programs from arecording medium on which input programs have been recorded as a group,comprising:

first operating means for registering a representative program of thegroup;

second operating means for registering a representative portion of eachprogram of the group;

management information recording means for storing managementinformation with which each program of the group, a representativeprogram number of the representative program registered by the firstoperating means, and a representative portion of each program of thegroup registered by the second operating means are managed;

selecting means for selecting a first searching mode for searching thegroup for a representative program, a second searching mode forsearching a designated program for a representative portion, or a thirdsearching mode for searching the representative program of the group fora representative portion when the content of the group or the content ofa desired program is checked from the programs recorded on the recordingmedium; and

controlling means for reproducing programs from the recording mediumcorresponding to the searching mode selected by the selecting means andthe management information stored in the management information storingmeans.

An embodiment of the present invention is an editing apparatus,comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of input programs;

management information storing means for storing management informationand a representative program number of a group, with the managementinformation, a plurality of programs stored in the storing means beingmanaged as a group;

operating means for designating an editing process for a program of thegroup; and

updating means for changing the representative program number when theediting process has been performed for the designated program of thegroup by the operating means.

Since one embodiment of the present invention is a reproducing apparatusfor reproducing a plurality of programs from a recording medium on whichinput programs have been recorded as a group, comprising: firstoperating means for registering a representative program of the group;second operating means for registering a representative portion of eachprogram of the group; management information recording means for storingmanagement information with which each program of the group, arepresentative program number of the representative program registeredby the first operating means, and a representative portion of eachprogram of the group registered by the second operating means aremanaged; selecting means for selecting a first searching mode forsearching the group for a representative program, a second searchingmode for searching a designated program for a representative portion, ora third searching mode for searching the representative program of thegroup for a representative portion when the content of the group or thecontent of a desired program is checked from the programs recorded onthe recording medium; and controlling means for reproducing programsfrom the recording medium corresponding to the searching mode selectedby the selecting means and the management information stored in themanagement information storing means, while the group is being searchedfor a representative program, a designated program is being searched fora representative portion, and a representative program of the group isbeing searched for a representative portion, a desired group and adesired program can be found.

Since one embodiment of the present invention is an editing apparatus,comprising: storing means for storing a plurality of input programs;management information storing means for storing management informationand a representative program number of a group, with the managementinformation, a plurality of programs stored in the storing means beingmanaged as a group; operating means for designating an editing processfor a program of the group; and updating means for changing therepresentative program number when the editing process has beenperformed for the designated program of the group by the operatingmeans, when an editing process is performed for a program of the group,a representative program number of the group is automatically updated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall structure ofa dubbing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a CD changer according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the CD changer according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the CDchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of aframe of a CD;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of theformat of a sub code of a CD;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of aframe of a sub code of a CD;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of Qdata of a sub code;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of adata portion of Q data;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a HDrecording and reproducing device according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a hard disk of the HD recordingand reproducing device according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a directoryentry according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of anaudio input and output device according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of asystem controller according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a folder changingprocess performed corresponding to a detected result of no sound state;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a folder changingprocess depending on whether or not TOC information has been read;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a folder changingprocess performed corresponding to total remaining record time of TOCinformation;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a folder changingprocess performed corresponding to a sequential control of a systemcontroller;

FIGS. 19A-19B are schematic diagrams showing an image of a filemanagement structure according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a file managementstructure according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 21A-21D are schematic diagrams showing the structure of a databaseaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 22A-22B are schematic diagrams showing a highlight of each albumand a highlight of each track of each album stored in the HD recordingand reproducing device according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 23 is a flow chart for explaining a highlight registering operationin mode 1 of the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 24 is a flow chart for explaining a highlight registering operationin mode 2 of the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 25 is a flow chart for explaining a highlight registering operationin mode 3 of the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 26A-26C are schematic diagrams for explaining a highlightregistering operation in mode 3 of the dubbing apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 27A-27B are schematic diagrams showing an image of an album &track searching process of the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a flow chart for explaining a highlight searching operationand a highlight searching process of the dubbing apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a flow chart for explaining a highlight searching operationand a highlight searching process of the dubbing apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 30A-30C are schematic diagrams showing an image for explaining anerase editing operation of the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 31A-31C are schematic diagrams showing an image for explaining adivide editing operation of the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 32A-32D are schematic diagrams showing an image for explaining amove editing operation of the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 33A-33D are schematic diagrams showing an image for explaining amove editing operation of the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 34A-34C are schematic diagrams showing an image for explaining acombine editing operation of the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows an example of theoverall structure of a dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment ofthe present invention. The dubbing apparatus is composed of a CD changer1, a hard disk recording and reproducing device (hereinafter referred toas HD recording and reproducing device) 101, an audio input and outputdevice 201, and a system controller 301.

The CD changer 1 is connected to the system controller 301 through acable 401. The HD recording and reproducing device 101 is connected tothe system controller 301 through a cable 402. The audio input andoutput device 201 is connected to the system controller 301 through acable 403. In addition, the CD changer 1 and the audio input and outputdevice 201 are connected through a cable 404. In addition, the HDrecording and reproducing device 101 and the audio input and outputdevice 201 are connected through cables 405, 406, and 407.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the CD changer 1according to the embodiment of the present invention. The CD changer 1according to the embodiment of the present invention takes out one CD 6from a disc loading unit 3 which loads many CDs 6 on which aninformation signal such as a music signal has been recorded. The CDchanger 1 reproduces the information signal from the CD 6 which has beentaken out.

An outer casing 2 of the CD changer 1 is formed nearly in a rectangularparallelopiped shape. The outer casing 2 encloses the disc loading unit3 and a disc reproducing unit (not shown). The disc loading unit 3 loadsup to 100 CDs 6. The disc reproducing unit reproduces an informationsignal from one CD 6 selected from the disc loading unit 3. The discloading unit 3 has 100 slots (not shown) for CDs 6.

A disc loading/unloading opening 4 from and to which a CD 6 is loaded toand unloaded from the disc loading unit 3 is disposed on the outercasing 2 of the CD changer 1. The disc loading/unloading opening 4 isclosed with a lid 5 composed of a transparent synthetic resin. Thus,when an information signal is reproduced from a CD 6 or when the CDchanger 1 is not used, the disc loading/unloading opening 4 is closedwith the lid 5 so as to prevent the user from unintentionally touchingany CD 6 loaded in the disc loading unit 3 and dust from entering theinside of the outer casing 2.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, an operation panel 10 is disposed atthe front of the outer casing 2. On the operation panel 10, operationswitches, operation buttons, and so forth with which the CD changer 1 isoperated are disposed.

Output terminals, control terminals, and so forth to which cables areconnectable are disposed at the rear of the outer casing 2.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the CD changer 1 according to theembodiment of the present invention. Next, with reference to FIG. 3,principal operation switches, operation buttons, and so forth disposedon the operation panel 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, whenviewed from the front of the operation panel 10, a power switch 11 isdisposed at an upper left portion thereof. When viewed from the front ofthe operation panel 10, an operation key group 12 is disposed at anupper right portion thereof. The operation key group 12 is composed of areproduction mode selection key 12 a, a pause key 12 b, a stop key 12 c,an unload key 12 d, a preview key 12 e, and a next key 12 f with which areproduction operation mode for the CD 6 is selected. A disc groupdesignation key 13 is disposed at a lower center portion of theoperation panel 10. The disc group designation key 13 is used todesignate 100 CDs 6 loaded in the disc loading unit 3 as groups each ofwhich is composed of a predetermined number of CDs 6 corresponding tocontents of recorded information or use frequencies of a plurality ofusers. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the discgroup designation key 13 is composed of 10 keys which are a first discgroup designation key 13 a to tenth disc group designation key 13 j.Above the disc group designation key 13 a of the disc group designationkey 13, a disc group entry key 14 is disposed. At the left of the discgroup entry key 14, a selection key 15 is disposed. The selection key 15is used to register character information with respect to a disc, agroup, or a track. At the left of the selection key 15, a memo scan key16 is disposed. The memo scan key 16 is used to successively displaymemo input information in a memo display area 32 of a display portion 30which will be described later.

In the CD changer 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, when viewed from the front of the operation panel 10 shown inFIG. 3, a jog key 17 is disposed at a lower right portion of theoperation panel 10. The jog key 17 has a push button switch 18 which isused to set data which has been input. The jog key 17 has intermittentstop positions for example 10 stop position in one turn. At each stopposition, data is updated. For example, when the jog key 17 is rotatedfor one stop position on the right, data is updated by +1. In contrast,when the jog key 17 is rotated for one stop position on the left, datais updated by −1. At the left of the jog key 17, a memory input key 19,a file key 20, and an erase key 21 are disposed.

On a right upper row of a lower center portion of the operation panel10, mode setting keys are disposed. The mode setting keys are composedof a continue key 22, a shuffle key 23, and a program key 24. The usercan select his or her desired reproduction mode with these keys.

At a center portion of the operation panel 10, the display portion 30 isdisposed. The display portion 30 is composed of for example a liquidcrystal display or an FL tube. The display portion 30 has a registeredgroup display portion 31 a, a disc group number display area 30 b, thememo display area 32, first and second disc number display areas 33 aand 33 b, a track number display area 34, a time display area 35, and aremaining track display portion 36. The registered group display portion31 a displays a registered group number with a number which is lit. Thedisc group number display area 30 b displays a group number of aselected disc or a current disc. The memo display area 32 displays amemo such as a title of a selected disc or a current disc. The first andsecond disc number display area 33 a and 33 b display a disc number of aCD 6 which is being reproduced or which has been selected and a discnumber of a CD 6 from which an information signal will be reproducednext, respectively. The track number display area 34 displays a tracknumber of a disc from which an information signal is being reproduced.The remaining track display portion 36 displays the remaining disctracks besides a track number of a disc from which an information signalis being reproduced.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the CDchanger 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shownin FIG. 4, the CD changer 1 comprises a spindle motor 41, an opticalhead 42, an RF (Radio Frequency) amplifier 43, a servo circuit 44, athread 45, an EFM (Eight to Fourteen Modulation) and CIRC (CrossInterleave Reed-Solomon Code) decoding circuit 46, and a controller 47.

An output terminal 48 is connected to the audio input and output device201 through the cable 404. A control terminal 49 is connected to thesystem controller 301 through the cable 401.

In a CD reproduction mode, a CD 6 loaded to the disc reproducing unit(not shown) is rotated and driven at constant linear velocity (CLV) bythe spindle motor 41. In this example, the CD 6 is a reproduction-onlydisc.

The optical head 42 radiates laser light to a recoding surface of the CD6 and receives the reflected light therefrom. As a result, the opticalhead 42 reads data recorded as pits on the CD 6 and supplies the data tothe RF amplifier 43. The intensity of laser light is optimized by an APC(Automatic Power Control) (not shown). The optical head 42 is movable intracking and focus directions. In addition, the optical head 42 ismovable in the radius direction of the CD 6 corresponding to a signalsupplied from the thread 45.

The RF amplifier 43 generates a reproduction RF signal, a focus errorsignal, and a tracking error signal corresponding to the signal suppliedfrom the optical head 42. The focus error signal and the tracking errorsignal are supplied to the servo circuit 44. The reproduction RF signalis supplied to the EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46.

The servo circuit 44 generates drive signals which are a focus drivesignal, a tracking drive signal, a thread drive signal, and a spindledrive signal corresponding to the focus error signal and the trackingerror signal supplied from the RF amplifier 43. Corresponding to thesesignals, the operations of the thread 45 and the spindle motor 41 arecontrolled.

The EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46 digitizes the reproduction RFsignal supplied from the RF amplifier 43 and obtains an EFM signal. TheEFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46 performs an EFM demodulation and a CIRCdecode for the EFM signal so that information which has been read fromthe optical disc is quantized with 16 bits (BInary digit (bit)) andsampled at 44.1 kHz is decoded to a digital signal. The digital signalis supplied to the audio input and output device 201 through the cable404 connected to the output terminal 48. The CIRC decode is an errordetecting process and an error correcting process which use a CIRC. Inreality, the CIRC decode is an error detecting process and an errorcorrecting process using C1 and C2 codes.

The EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46 extracts control data such as TOC(Table Of Contents) and a sub code (which will be described later) fromthe reproduction RF signal supplied from the RF amplifier 43 andsupplies the extracted control data to the controller 47.

The controller 47 controls each portion corresponding to data such asTOC and sub code supplied from the EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46. Inaddition, the controller 47 transmits control data such as TOC and subcode to the system controller 301 through the cable 401 connected to thecontrol terminal 49. In addition, the controller 47 receives for examplea control signal from the system controller 301 through the cable 401connected to the control terminal 49. Corresponding to the receivedcontrol signal, the controller 47 controls each portion of the CDchanger 1. In addition, the controller 47 is connected to the operationswitches, operation buttons, and so forth (not shown). Corresponding tosignals supplied from these operation switches and operation buttons,the controller 47 controls each portion of the CD changer 1.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of a frame of data generated by the EFM andCIRC decoding circuit 46 and supplied to the controller 47 shown in FIG.4. As shown in FIG. 5, one frame is composed of a synchronous patternportion (24 channel bits), a sub coding portion (one symbol, namely 14channel bits), a first data portion (12 symbols, namely 12×14 channelbits), a first parity portion (4 symbols, namely 4×14 channel bits), asecond data portion (12 symbols, namely 12×14 channel bits), and asecond parity portion (4 symbols, namely 4×14 channel bits). In thisexample, one frame contains three connection bits for connecting eachsymbol (assuming that a synchronous pattern is a symbol composed of 24bits). Thus, the total number of connection bits are 34×3=102 channelbits. Consequently, one frame is composed of a total of 588 channelbits.

As shown in FIG. 6, 98 frames form one block of information composed offrame synchronous information, sub code information, data, and parityinformation (this block of information is referred to as sub codeframe). Sub code data of 98 frames represents sub code information ofone block. Next, with reference to FIG. 7, such a block will bedescribed. Sub codes of a first frame F1 and a second frame F2 arecomposed of fixed synchronous patterns S0=00100000000001 andS1=00000000010010, respectively. As S0 and S1, patterns which do nottake place in an EFM modulation are used. Thus, when data is reproduced,with the fixed synchronous patterns S0 and S1, a start position of ablock of sub code information is detected.

Sub codes of 96 frames of third frame F3, fourth frame F4, . . . , 97-thframe F97, and 98-th frame F98 are composed of P1, Q1, R1, S1, T1, U1,V1, and W1, P2 to W2, . . . , P95 to W95, and P96 to W96, respectively.Rows of P1, P2, . . . , and P96, Q1, Q2, . . . and Q96, R1 to R96, S1 toS96, T1 to T96, U1 to U96, V1 to V96, and W1 to W96 each form completeinformation channels.

Such sub code information contains (1) information with respect to suchas music program start position detection and programming reproductionfunction and (2) additional information of text information. As theinformation (1), P channel and Q channel of sub codes are used. As theinformation (2), R channel to Q channel are used. P channel represents apause between two music programs. P channel is used to coarsely detectthe beginning of a music program. In contrast, Q channel is used to morefinely control the detection of the music program start position.

FIG. 8 shows an example of contents of Q data. As shown in FIG. 8, Qdata is composed of a control portion, an address portion, a dataportion, and a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Code) portion.

The control portion is composed of four bits Q1 to Q4 in which datawhich represents the number of audio channels, an emphasis, digitaldata, and so forth has been recorded.

The address portion is composed of four bits Q5 to Q8 in which a controlsignal which represents a format and a type of data of the data portionwhich will be described later has been recorded.

The CRC portion is composed of 16 bits Q81 to Q96 in which data fordetecting an error with a cyclic code has been recorded.

As shown in FIG. 9, the data portion is composed of 72 bits Q9 to Q80.When the four-bit data of the address portion is “0001”, the dataportion (TOC (Table Of Contents) of the lead-in area of the CD 6 has thestructure as shown in FIG. 9. In other words, as shown in FIG. 9, thedata portion is composed of a MNR portion (music program numberportion), a POINT portion, an MIN portion (elapsed time minute componentportion), a SEC portion (elapsed time second component portion), a FRAMEportion (elapsed time frame number portion), a ZERO portion, a PMINportion (absolute time minute component portion), a PSEC (absolute timesecond component portion), and a PFRAME portion (absolute time framenumber portion). Each of these portions is composed of eight-bit data.

Each of the MNR portion, the MIN portion, the SEC portion, the FRAMEportion, and the ZERO portion are fixed to “00” in hexadecimal notation.Thus, all eight bits of each of these portions are “0”.

When the POINT portion is “A0” in hexadecimal notation, it representsthe first music program number or the first movement number. When thePOINT portion is “A1” in hexadecimal notation, it represents the lastmusic program number or the last movement number. When the POINT portionis “A2” in hexadecimal notation, the PMIN portion (absolute time minutecomponent portion), the PSEC portion (absolute time second componentportion), and the PFRAME portion (absolute time frame number portion)represent absolute time (PTIME) at which the lead-out area starts.

When the POINT portion is represented in two-digit BCD, the PMIN portion(absolute time minute component portion), the PSEC portion (absolutetime second component portion), and the PFRAME portion (absolute timeframe number portion) represent an address in absolute time (PTIME) atwhich a music program or a movement represented by their values starts.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the structure of the HD recording andreproducing device 101 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention. The HD recording and reproducing device 101 comprises anaudio compression encoding and decoding device 102, an SDRAM(Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 103, an HDD 104, and acontroller 105.

An output terminal 107, an input terminal 108, and an input terminal 109are connected to the audio input and output device 201 through the cable405, the cable 406, and the cable 407, respectively. In addition, acontrol terminal 110 is connected to the system controller 301 throughthe cable 402.

The audio compression encoding and decoding device 102 compresses audiodata which is supplied from the audio input and output device 201 to theHD recording and reproducing device 101 through the cable 406 connectedto the input terminal 108 corresponding to ATRAC3 (Adaptive TransformAcoustic Coding 3) and supplies the compressed audio data to thecontroller 105 through the SDRAM 103. Likewise, the audio compressionencoding and decoding device 102 processes audio data supplied from theaudio input and output device 201 to the HD recording and reproducingdevice 101 through the cable 407 connected to the input terminal 109. Itshould be noted that the data compressing system is not limited toATRAC3. Instead, MP3 (MPEG-1 audio layer 3), WMA (Windows (registeredtrademark) Media Audio), AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), TwinVQ(Tranform-domain Weighted Interleave Vector Quantization), or the likecan be used.

In addition, the audio compression encoding and decoding device 102decompresses ATRAC3 compressed data supplied from the controller 105through the SDRAM 103 and supplies the decompressed data to the audioinput and output device 201 through the cable 405 connected to theoutput terminal 107.

The SDRAM 103 is a storing device. In reality, the SDRAM 103 is astoring device which is used when data encoded or to be decoded by theaudio compression encoding and decoding device 102 is exchanged with theHDD 104 through the controller 105.

The controller 105 controls each portion of the HD recording andreproducing device 101. The controller 105 has a file system 106 as aninternal system. With the file system 106, a process for accessing theHDD 104 and reading a file therefrom and a process for accessing the HDD104 and writing a file thereto can be performed. According to theembodiment of the present invention, a file allocation table file system(hereinafter referred to as FAT FS) is used as a file system.

Originally, the FAT FS was used on DISK BASIC. Since 1977, the FAT FShas been widely used on MS-DOS (registered trademark) and Windows(registered trademark).

The FAT FS is a system which divides a disk area into clusters, assignsnumbers thereto, and manages programs and data with assigned clusternumbers. The FAT has variations such as FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, and soforth which differ in the number of clusters which can be managed.

The FAT12 was initially used in MS-DOS. The FAT12 manages clusters with12 bits. Thus, the FAT12 can manage 2¹²=4096 (actually, 4085 (FFF5h))clusters. In other words, the maximum storage capacity which the FAT12can manage is 32 kB (upper limit value of each cluster)×4096=128 MB.

The FAT16 was used in MS-DOS ver. 4.x. The FAT16 manages clusters with16 bits. Thus, the FAT16 can manage 2¹⁶=65536 (actually, 65525 (FFF5h))clusters. In other words, the maximum storage capacity which the FAT16can manage is 32 KB (upper limit value of each cluster)×65536=2GB.

The FAT32 has been used since WINDOWS (registered trademark) OSR 2.0.The FAT32 manages clusters with 32 bits. Thus, the FAT32 can manage 2³²clusters. However, since the FAT32 actually manages clusters with 28bits, it can manage 2²⁸=268435445 (FFFFFF5h) clusters.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, as the FAT FS,VFAT32 is used. The VFAT32 is an FAT FS used in WINDOWS (registeredtrademark) 95 which allows a long file name to be assigned to each filewith compatibility with the FAT FS of MS-DOS.

Next, with reference to FIG. 11, a managing method using FAT will bedescribed. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a hard disk of the HDD104. The hard disk has a partition table portion, a blank area, a bootsector, an FAT area, an FAT backup area, a root directory area, a subdirectory area, and a data area which are successively layered.

The boot sector, the FAT area, the FAT backup area, the root directoryarea, the sub directory area, and the data area together are referred toas FAT partition area.

In the partition table portion, start and end addresses of the FATpartition area have been recorded. A FAT used in a floppy disk does nothave the partition table portion. Thus, since the first track is usedfor only the partition table, the first track of a floppy disk has ablank area.

In the boot sector, a size of an FAT structure which is 12-bit FAT,16-bit FAT, or 32-bit FAT, a cluster size, and a size of each area havebeen recorded.

The FAT is used to manage positions of files recorded in the data area.The FAT backup area is an area for a backup of the FAT.

In the root directory portion, directory entries which containinformation with respect to sub directories and so forth have beenrecorded.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the structure of a directory entry accordingto the VFAT32. As shown in FIG. 12, a directory entry is composed of afile name, an extension, a file attribute, an upper case/lower caseflag, a creation time, a creation date, Accessed date and time, acluster number (high order two bytes), an update time, an update date, acluster number (low order two bytes), a file size, and so forth.

The file name (alias name) and the extension are areas in which a shortname (eight-character file name and three-character extension) isstored. When the file name and the extension are less than eightcharacters and three characters, respectively, 0x20 is filled. When thestart byte is 0xE5, it represents a file which has been erased. When thestart byte is 0x01, it represents 0xE5. A volume label is recorded witha total of 11 bytes of the file name and the extension.

The file attribute is an area in which an attribute of a file is stored.The attribute has values 0x01 (read only), 0x02 (hidden file), 0x04(system file), 0x08 (volume label), 0x10 (directory), and 0x20 (normalfile).

The creation time, the creation date, and the access date are areaswhich have been reserved in the conventional FAT. These areas have thesame binary format as the conventional FAT.

The cluster number is an area in which a start cluster number isrecorded. As shown in FIG. 12, the cluster number is composed of twoareas in which high order two bytes and low order two bytes arerecorded, respectively.

The update time is an area in which time at which a file has beenupdated is stored. The update time has a bit field HHHHHmmm mmmssssswhere hhhhh is (hour) (0 to 23), mmmmmm is (minute) (0 to 59), and ssssis (second) (0 to 29, which are actually doubled).

The update date is an area in which an updated date is stored. Theupdate date has a bit field YYYYYYYM MMMDDDDD where YYYYYYY is (year) (0to 99, after 1980), MMMM is (month) (January to December), and DDDDD is(1 to 31).

The file size is an area in which the size of a file is stored.

In the sub directory portion, sub directory entries have been recorded.In a sub directory entry, a file name and a record position on the FATare managed. In FIG. 11, in a sub directory entry in which a file namealbum 1 has been recorded, address “5” on the FAT has been managed. In asub directory entry in which file name album 2 has been recoded, address“10” on the FAT has been managed. In addition, in a sub directory entryin which file name album 3 has been recorded, address “110” on the FAThas been managed.

In the data area, real data after cluster 5 has been recorded. Accordingto the embodiment of the present invention, in the data area, audio datawhich has been compressed corresponding to ATRAC3 is recorded.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, album 1 which isaudio data compressed corresponding to ATRAC3 has been recorded inclusters 5, 6, 7, and 8. Album 2-1 which is a first part of album 2 asaudio data compressed corresponding to ATRAC3 has been recorded inclusters 10, 11, and 12. Album 2-2 which is a second part of album 2 asaudio data compressed corresponding to ATRAC3 has been recorded inclusters 100 and 101. In addition, album 3 which is audio datacompressed corresponding to ATRAC3 has been recorded in clusters 110 and111.

Album 2 has been divided into two portions and dispersedly recorded. Inthe data area, an area denoted by empty is a recordable area.

Next, a process for reading each of album 1, album 2, and album 3 willbe described. In this example, the root directory area has a rootdirectory entry which contains file name “album 1”, cluster number “2”,and so forth, a root directory entry which contains file name “album 2”,cluster number “3”, and so forth, and a root directory entry whichcontains file name “album 3”, cluster number “3”, and so forth.

First of all, a process for reading a file of album 1 will be described.With address “2” recorded as a cluster number of a directory entry foralbum 1, cluster number 2 is accessed in the sub directory area. Withaddress “5” recorded as a cluster number of a sub directory entry foralbum 1, the FAT is searched for an entry address. With reference toentry address “5”, cluster address “6” is obtained. With reference toentry address “6”, cluster address “7” is obtained. With reference toentry address “7”, cluster address “8” is obtained. With reference toentry address “8”, an end code “FFF” is obtained.

Thus, the file of album 1 uses clusters 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the clusterarea. With reference to clusters 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the data area, anarea for ATRAC3 data of album 1 can be accessed.

Next, a method for searching a file of album 2 which has beendispersedly recorded will be described. With address “3” recorded as afile name of a directory entry for album 2, cluster number “3” isaccessed in the sub directory area. With address “10” recorded as acluster number of a sub directory entry for album 2, the FAT is searchedfor an entry address. With reference to entry address “10”, clusteraddress “11” is obtained. With reference to entry address “11” clusteraddress “12” is obtained. With reference to entry address “12”, clusteraddress “100” is obtained. With reference to entry address “101”, an endcode “FFF” is obtained.

Thus, the file of album 2 uses clusters 10, 11, 12, 100, and 101. Withreference to clusters 10, 11, and 12 in the data area, an area forATRAC3 data of a first half part of the file of album 2 can be accessed.In addition, with reference to clusters 100 and 101 of the data area, anarea for ATRAC3 data of a second half part of the file of album 2 can beaccessed.

Last, a process for reading a file of album 3 will be described. Withaddress “4” recorded as a cluster number of a directory entry for album3, a cluster number “4” is accessed in the sub directory area. Withaddress “110” recorded as a cluster number of a sub directory entry foralbum 3, the FAT is searched for an entry address. With reference toentry address “110”, cluster address “111” is obtained. With referenceto entry address “111”, an end code “FFF” is obtained.

Thus, the file of album 3 uses clusters 110 and 111. With reference toclusters 110 and 111 in the data area, an area for ATRAC3 data of album3 can be accessed.

In such a manner, data files which have been dispersedly recorded on theHD can be combined and sequentially reproduced.

In the forgoing example, three sub directories have been recorded indirectory entries of the root directory. However, it should be notedthat the present invention can be applied to the case that more thanthree sub directories have been recorded.

In addition, the controller 105 stores an address pointer and so forthof audio data to the HDD 104 corresponding to a signal supplied from acontroller 302. For example, the controller 105 stores a track startpointer, a track end pointer, and track information to the HDD 104corresponding to a signal supplied from the controller 302. The trackinformation is composed of for example a track number, a folder number(virtual slot number), and play time. The folder number (virtual slotnumber) is a folder number of a folder created in the HDD 104. Folders(virtual slots) will be described later in detail.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the structure of the audio input andoutput device 201 according to the embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 13, the audio input and output device 201 is composedof a D/A converter 202, an A/D converter 203, a digital interface(hereinafter referred to as digital I/F) 204, a D/A converter 205, and aswitch 206.

An input terminal 207, an input terminal 208, an output terminal 209,and an output terminal 210 are connected to an external device or thelike through respective cables (not shown).

An input terminal 211 is connected to the output terminal 107 of the HDrecording and reproducing device 101 through the cable 405. An outputterminal 212 is connected to the input terminal 108 of the HD recordingand reproducing device 101 through the cable 406. An output terminal 213is connected to the input terminal 109 of the HD recording andreproducing device 101 through the cable 407. An input terminal 214 isconnected to the output terminal 48 of the CD changer 1 through thecable 404. A control terminal 215 is connected to the system controller301 through the cable 403.

The D/A converter 202 converts a digital audio signal supplied from theHD recording and reproducing device 101 to the audio input and outputdevice 201 through the cable 405 connected to the input terminal 211into an analog audio signal and supplies the analog audio signal to theswitch 206.

With a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz and 16 quantizing bits, the A/Dconverter 203 digitizes an analog audio signal supplied from an externaldevice or the like to the audio input and output device 201 through acable (not shown) connected to the input terminal 207 and supplies thedigitized signal to the HD recording and reproducing device 101 throughthe cable 406 connected to the output terminal 212.

The digital I/F 204 supplies a digital audio signal supplied from anexternal device or the like to the audio input and output device 201through a cable (not shown) connected to the input terminal 208 to theHD recording and reproducing device 101 through the cable 407 connectedto the output terminal 213.

In addition, the digital I/F 204 supplies a digital audio signalsupplied from the CD changer 1 to the audio input and output device 201through the cable 404 connected to the input terminal 214 to the HDrecording and reproducing device 101 through the cable 407 connected tothe output terminal 213. Thus, digital CD reproduction data which isoutput from the CD changer 1 can be recorded to the HD recording andreproducing device 101.

In addition, the digital I/F 204 outputs a digital audio signal suppliedfrom the CD changer 1 to the audio input and output device 201 throughthe cable 404 connected to the input terminal 214 to an external deviceor the like through a cable (not shown) connected to the output terminal209. Thus, digital CD reproduction data can be output to an externaldevice or the like.

The D/A converter 205 converts a digital audio signal supplied from theCD changer 1 to the audio input and output device 201 through the cable404 connected to the input terminal 214 into an analog audio signal andsupplies the analog audio signal to the switch 206.

The switch 206 is controlled corresponding to a signal supplied from thesystem controller 301 to the audio input and output device 201 throughthe cable 403 connected to the control terminal 215. In reality, whenthe CD changer 1 is operated in the reproduction mode, the switch 206selects the D/A converter 205 corresponding to a signal supplied fromthe system controller 301 to the audio input and output device 201through the cable 403 connected to the control terminal 215. Thus, ananalog signal which is output from the D/A converter 205 is supplied tothe output terminal 210.

When the HD recording and reproducing device 101 is operated in thereproduction mode, the switch 206 selects the D/A converter 202corresponding to a signal supplied from the system controller 301 to theaudio input and output device 201 through the cable 403 connected to thecontrol terminal 215. In other words, the switch 206 supplies an analogaudio signal supplied from the D/A converter 202 to the output terminal210.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the structure of the systemcontroller 301. As shown in FIG. 14, the system controller 301 iscomposed of the controller 302, a display device 303, an operatingdevice 304, and a file management processing device 305.

A control terminal 306 is connected to the control terminal 49 of the CDchanger 1 through the cable 401. A control terminal 307 is connected tothe control terminal 110 of the HD recording and reproducing device 101through the cable 402. A control terminal 308 is connected to thecontrol terminal 215 of the audio input and output device 201 throughthe cable 403.

The controller 302 has a microcomputer. The controller 302 controls theCD changer 1, the HD recording and reproducing device 101, and the audioinput and output device 201. In reality, the controller 302 controls theCD changer 1, the HD recording and reproducing device 101, and the audioinput and output device 201 corresponding to a signal supplied from theoperating device 304 to the controller 302. In addition, the controller302 controls the HD recording and reproducing device 101 correspondingto a signal supplied from the CD changer 1 to the system controller 301.In addition, the controller 302 controls the CD changer 1 correspondingto a signal supplied from the HD recording and reproducing device 101 tothe system controller 301.

The controller 302 determines track record start time corresponding toTOC information supplied from the controller 47 of the CD changer 1. Atthe track record start time, the controller 302 orders the controller105 to store an address pointer of audio data to the HDD 104.Alternatively, the controller 302 may determine track record start timecorresponding to P channel supplied from the controller 47 of the CDchanger 1.

In addition, the controller 302 determines track record end timecorresponding to TOC information supplied from the controller 47 of theCD changer 1. AT track record end time, the controller 302 orders thecontroller 105 to store an address pointer of audio data to the HDD 104.Alternatively, the controller 302 may determine track record end timecorresponding to P channel supplied from the controller 47 of the CDchanger 1.

The display device 303 is a display device composed of for example aliquid crystal display or an FL tube. The display device 303 isconnected to the controller 302. The display device 303 displays datacorresponding to a signal supplied from the controller 302. For example,the display device 303 displays time information such as total play timeof CDs 6 loaded in the CD changer 1, elapsed time of a music programwhich is being reproduced in the CD changer 1, remaining play time of amusic program which is being reproduced in the CD changer 1, remainingplay time of all CDs 6 loaded in the CD changer 1, a track number of amusic program which is being reproduced in the CD changer 1, timeinformation such as total play time of audio data recorded in the HDrecording and reproducing device 101, elapsed time of a music programwhich is being reproduced in the HD recording and reproducing device101, remaining play time of a music program which is being reproduced inthe HD recording and reproducing device 101, total remaining play timeof audio data recorded in the HD recording and reproducing device 101, atrack number of a music program which is being reproduced in the HDrecording and reproducing device 101, and so forth.

When information such as an album name and a track name has beenrecorded on a CD 6 or the HDD 104, the display device 303 may displaythese information. The display device 303 displays informationcorresponding to information supplied from the CD changer 1 to thesystem controller 301 or information supplied from the HD recording andreproducing device 101 to the system controller 301.

The operating device 304 has a power key, an eject key, a reproductionkey, a pause key, a stop key, a music program selection key, a recordkey, a synchronous record key, a numeric key, a play list registrationkey, an end key, an enter key, a cancel key, a jog key, a menu key, andso forth. When these keys are pressed, signals corresponding thereto aresupplied to the controller 302.

The synchronous record key is a key used to perform a synchronousrecording. The synchronous recording is a recording method forautomatically starting and stopping a recording operation insynchronization with the reproduction side. In reality, when the userpresses the synchronous record key, the CD changer 1 starts areproducing operation and the HD recording and reproducing device 101also starts a recording operation. When the CD changer 1 stops thereproducing operation, the HD recording and reproducing device 101 stopsthe recording operation. Thus, without necessity of user's simultaneousoperations for the CD changer 1 and the HD recording and reproducingdevice 101, music data reproduced by the CD changer 1 can be easilystored to the HD recording and reproducing device 101.

The play list registration key is used to register music programs to aplay list. The menu key is used to cause the display device 303 todisplay a play list category selection screen.

The jog key of the operating device 304 is the same as the jog key 17 ofthe CD changer 1. The jog key of the operating device 304 has a pushbutton disposed at center thereof.

The file management processing device 305 is connected to the controller302. The file management processing device 305 is a device whichcontrols a file management structure of the HDD 104. For example, thefile management processing device 305 performs the following process.

The file management processing device 305 pre-creates folders in the HDD104 corresponding to slots of the disc loading unit 3 through thecontroller 302 and the controller 105. When a dubbing operation isperformed, individual albums are stored in folders which areautomatically selected.

Besides the folders for albums, the file management processing device305 pre-creates folders for play lists and stores play lists in thefolders. In other words, play lists are managed in the same manner asalbums. Play lists are managed as albums. Thus, the dubbing apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention can manage albumsand play lists totally, not separately.

In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, thefile management processing device 305 creates 100 folders for albums andfour folders for play lists.

In addition, the file management processing device 305 creates orupdates a play list corresponding to a signal supplied from theoperating device 304 through the controller 302. A play list is used toregister music programs the user desires. In reality, the user selectshis or her desired music programs from albums stored in the HD recordingand reproducing device 101 and registers the selected music programs toa play list. Thus, corresponding to the created play list, user'sdesired music programs can be reproduced in the order of which they havebeen registered. The order of which the selected music programs arereproduced can be programmed. The selected music program can bereproduced at random (in a shuffled order). Real music data is notregistered in a play list. Instead, titles of music programs or pointerswhich represent locations of music data is registered to a play list.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, three types ofplay lists are provided. The first type is a play list in which apredetermined number of music programs to which the user had mostrecently listened have been registered (hereinafter this type of playlist is referred to as reproduction history play list). The second typeis a play list in which a predetermined number of music programs towhich the user had most frequently listened have been registered(hereinafter this type of play list is referred to as reproductionfrequency play list). The third type is a play list in which musicprograms selected from all the virtual slots by the user have beenregistered (hereinafter this type of play list is referred to asselection play list). To select one of the three types of play lists,the user presses the menu key of the operating device 304 of the systemcontroller 301 and selects a desired type on the menu displayed on thedisplay device 303.

Whenever a CD 6 is changed to another one in the CD changer 1, the filemanagement processing device 305 changes a folder for storing audio datato another one. Next, a folder changing process performed in the dubbingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed.

When the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention changes CDs 6, it always performs a mechanical operation forloading and unloading them against a display reproducing unit (notshown). Thus, no sound state continues for a predetermined time period.Thus, by determining whether or not no sound state has continued for apredetermined time period, the dubbing device can determine whether ornot CDs 6 have been changed.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a folder changingprocess performed corresponding to a detected result of no sound state.First of all, the controller 47 of the CD changer 1 determines whetheror not an output level of a signal which has been output from the EFMand CIRC decoding circuit 46 to the output terminal 48 is equal to orlower than a predetermined value (at step S1).

When the controller 47 has determined that the output level of thesignal which had been output from the EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46to the output terminal 48 was equal to or lower than the predeterminedvalue, the controller 47 supplies a control signal to the filemanagement processing device 305 of the system controller 301 throughthe cable 401 (at step S2). When the file management processing device305 has received the control signal, the file management processingdevice 305 changes a folder of the HDD 104 through the controller 302and the controller 105 (at step S3).

According to the embodiment of the present invention, in the forgoingprocess, a folder is changed to another one. However, the presentinvention is not limited to the forgoing folder changing process. Inother words, a folder can be changed to another one in the followingprocess.

For example, depending on whether or not TOC information has been read,a folder can be changed to another one. Before the CD changer 1 readsmusic data from a CD 6, the CD changer 1 reads TOC information from thelead-in track of the CD 6. Thus, depending on whether or not TOCinformation had been read, it can be determined whether or not a CD 6has been changed to another one. In reality, in the following process, afolder of the HD recording and reproducing device 101 is changed toanother one.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a folder changingprocess performed depending on whether or not TOC information has beenread. First of all, the controller 47 of the CD changer 1 determineswhether or not TOC information has been newly read corresponding to asignal supplied from the EFM and CIRC decoding circuit 46 (at step S11).

When the determined result represents that TOC information has beennewly read, the controller 47 supplies a control signal to the filemanagement processing device 305 of the system controller 301 throughthe cable 401 (at step S12). When the file management processing device305 has received the control signal, the file management processingdevice 305 changes a folder of the HDD 104 to another one through thecontroller 302 and the controller 105 (at step S13).

Alternatively, a folder may be changed to another one depending on thetotal record time of TOC information which has been read from a CD 6. Inreality, in the following process, a folder of the HD recording andreproducing device 101 is changed to another one.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a folder changingprocess performed depending on total record time of TOC information orthe like. First of all, the controller 302 receives TOC informationwhich has been read from a CD 6 and records information such as the PMINportion (absolute time minute component portion), the PSEC portion(absolute time second component portion), and so forth contained in theTOC information (at step S21).

Thereafter, the controller 302 determines whether or not recorded timehas elapsed (at step S22). When the determined result represents thatthe recorded time has elapsed, the controller 302 transmits a controlsignal to the file management processing device 305 (at step S23). Whenthe file management processing device 305 has received the controlsignal, the file management processing device 305 changes a folder ofthe HDD 104 to another one corresponding to the controller 302 and thecontroller 105 (at step S24).

Alternatively, the CD changer 1 and the HD recording and reproducingdevice 101 may be sequentially controlled so that the system controller301 changes a CD 6 of the CD changer 1 to another one and a folder ofthe HD recording and reproducing device 101 to another one. In reality,the system controller 301 changes a folder of the HD recording andreproducing device 101 to another one in the following process.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a folder changingprocess performed under a sequential control of the system controller301. First of all, the controller 302 determines whether or not musicdata has been reproduced from a CD 6 corresponding to a signal suppliedfrom the CD changer 1 to the system controller 301 (at step S31).

When the determined result represents that audio data has beenreproduced from the CD 6, the controller 302 transmits a control signalto the file management processing device 305 (at step S32) and changesthe CD 6 of the CD changer 1 to another one (at step S33). The filemanagement processing device 305, which has received the control signal,changes a folder of the HDD 104 to another one through the controller302 and the controller 105 (at step S34).

As was described above, an album is sequentially dubbed from the CDchanger 1 to the HD recording and reproducing device 101. Thus, it seemsto the user that the album is automatically dubbed from the CD changer 1to the HD recording and reproducing device 101.

FIGS. 19A-19B are schematic diagrams showing an image for explaining afile management structure of the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 19A-19B show an example ofwhich music data of 16 albums loaded in the CD changer 1 is stored in 16folders of the HD recording and reproducing device 101.

FIG. 19A is a schematic diagram showing an image of CDs 6 loaded in thedisc loading unit 3 of the CD changer 1. As shown in FIG. 19A, 16 albumsare loaded in slots 1 to 16 of the CD changer 1.

FIG. 19B is a schematic diagram showing an image of a file managementstructure of the HD recording and reproducing device 101 correspondingto the albums loaded in the CD changer 1 shown in FIG. 19A. The dubbingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention allowsthe user to have virtual boxes (namely, virtual slots) corresponding toCDs 6 stored in the HDD 104. In other words, the dubbing apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention has a filemanagement structure as if the disc loading unit 3 were in the HDD 104.

Thus, after audio data of CDs 6 loaded in the CD changer 1 is stored tothe HD recording and reproducing device 101, it seems to the user thatthe CDs 6 were loaded in the CD changer 1. Thus, the user can operatethe HD recording and reproducing device 101 as if he or she operated theCD changer 1.

Next, as a more practical example of the file management structure, thecase that 104 folders from folder 100 to folder 104 have been created inthe HDD 104 by the file management processing device 305 will bedescribed. In the example, 100 folders from folder 1 to folder 100 arefolders for albums. Four folders from folder 101 to folder 104 arefolder for play lists.

FIG. 20 more practically shows an image of a file management structure.As shown in FIG. 20, the user can imagine 104 virtual slots in the HDD104. In reality, the user can imagine virtual slots from slot 101 toslot 104 for four play lists.

In FIG. 20, albums 1, 2, and 3 have been stored in virtual slots 1, 2,and 3, respectively. Albums 1, 2, and 3 have four tracks, three tracks,and four tracks, respectively.

Play lists 1 and 2 have been registered to virtual slots 101 and 102,respectively. Track 1 of album 1 stored in virtual slot 1 and tracks 1and 3 of album 3 stored in virtual slot 2 have been registered to playlist 1. On the other hand, tracks 2 and 3 of album 1 stored in virtualslot 1 and track 1 of album 3 stored in virtual slot 3 have beenregistered to play list 2.

FIGS. 21A-21D shows show an example of the structure of a databaseaccording to the embodiment of the present invention. Data managed withthe database is categorized as all album data, each album data, eachtrack data, and reproduction frequency data. Next, an example of thedatabase containing the four types of data in the file managementstructure shown in FIG. 20 will be described.

FIG. 21A shows the structure of the all album data. The all album datais data with respect to all albums stored in the HD recording andreproducing device 101. Total capacity represents a capacity of datawhich can be stored in the HDD 104. The total capacity is for example 20GB, 40 GB, etc. According to the embodiment of the present invention,the total capacity is 40 GB.

Number of folders represents the number of folders created in the HDrecording and reproducing device 101. The number of folders includes thenumber of folders for albums and the number of folders for play lists.This is because the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention manages play lists in the same manner as albums andtreats play lists as albums. Thus, according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, the number of folders is 104.

Play list start number represents a folder from which a play list folderstarts. Folders from a folder with the play list start number to afolder with the last number are used as folders for play lists.According to the embodiment of the present invention, the play liststart number is 101. In other words, folders 101 to 104 are used asfolders for play lists.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, an example ofwhich a folder with the play list start number to a folder with the lastnumber are assigned as folders for play lists is described. However,according to the present invention, folders for play lists are notlimited to those. For example, a folder with the folder start number(folder 1) to a folder with a predetermined folder number may beassigned as folders for play lists. Alternatively, a predeterminednumber of folders in the middle of all folders may be assigned asfolders for play lists. Alternatively, folders selected at random notsuccessive folders may be assigned as folders for play lists. Whenfolders which have been selected at random are assigned as folders forplay lists, it is necessary to identify them so that they are foldersfor play lists. In reality, all album data contains folder numbers forplay lists instead of the forgoing play list start number.

All folder total use time represents time information with respect tototal reproduction time of audio data stored in all folders (from folder1 to folder 100). For example, the all folder total use time isrepresented with for example day, hour, minute, second, frame, and soforth.

All recordable time represents information with respect to recordabletime (namely, time information for which audio data can be furtherstored in the HD recording and reproducing device 101. For example, theall recordable time represents time information with % (percent) (freecapacity of the HDD 104), day, hour, minute, second, frame, and soforth.

All folder blank information represents whether or not each folder has afree space. In reality, the all folder blank information representswhether or not each folder has a free space with one bit of information.In other words, when a folder has a free space, 0 is set to thecorresponding bit. In contrast, when a folder does not have a freespace, 1 is set to the corresponding bit. According to the embodiment ofthe present invention, the all folder blank information is composed of104 bits. 1 is set to bits for the folders 1, 2, 3, 101, and 102. 0 isset to other bits.

Album pointer is a pointer which represents a location of the HD of theHDD 104 at which each album data has been assigned. According to theembodiment of the present invention, since 104 folders have beenprovided, album pointer is composed of album 1 pointer, album 2 pointer,. . . , and album 104 pointer.

FIG. 21B shows the structure of each album data. Each album data is datawith respect to one album stored in each folder.

Folder number represents a number assigned to each folder. According tothe embodiment of the present invention, the folder number ranges from 1to 104. The folder number is followed by data with respect to a foldercorresponding to the folder number and an album stored in the folder.

Start track number represents a number with which track number the albumstarts. Normally, 1 is set to the start track number.

Last track number represents a number with which track the album ends.The number of tracks of the album stored in the folder is obtained bysubtracting the start track number from the last track number and adding1 to the subtracted result. However, when the last track number and thestart track number are 0, the number of tracks is 0.

Total time represents total reproduction time for which all audio dataof the album is reproduced. The total time is represented with forexample day, hour, minute, second, frame, and so forth.

Recorded date and time represents time information with respect to thedate and time on and at which the album or a name which will bedescribed later has been stored. The recorded date and time representstime information with for example year, month, day, hour, minute,second, and so forth.

Name represents a name assigned to the folder.

Artist represents a name of an artist assigned to the folder. Forexample, the name the artist are registered by the user. In reality,before audio data is stored from the CD changer 1 to the HD recordingand reproducing device 101, while audio data is being stored, or afteraudio data has been stored, the name and the artist are registered withthe operating device 304 of the system controller 301.

Highlight track is a representative track of all tracks of the album.When audio data of the highlight track of the album is reproduced, theuser can easily search for his or her desired album.

Track pointer is a pointer which represents a location of the filesystem 106 at which each track data of the album has been assigned. Thetrack pointer is composed of track 1 pointer, track 2 pointer, . . . andso forth.

FIG. 21C shows the structure of each track data. Each track data is datawith respect to each track of an album stored in each folder.

Belonging folder number represents a folder number of a folder to whichthe track belongs. According to the embodiment of the present invention,the folder number ranges from 1 to 100.

Track number represents a track number of the track in the album storedin the folder.

Total time represents total reproduction time of audio data of thetrack. The total time is time information represented with for exampleday, hour, minute, second, frame, and so forth.

Recorded date and time represents a date and time on and at which audiodata of the track has been stored from the CD changer 1 to the HDrecording and reproducing device 101. The recorded date and time isrepresented with for example year, month, day, hour, minute, second, andso forth.

Name represents a name assigned to the track. Artist represents anartist name assigned to the track. For example, the name and the artistare registered by the user. In reality, before audio data is stored fromthe CD changer 1 to the HD recording and reproducing device 101, whileaudio data is being stored, or after audio data has been stored, thename and the artist are registered with the operating device 304 of thesystem controller 301.

Accessed date and time represents a date and time on and at which thetrack has been accessed most recently. The accessed date and timerepresents date and time information with for example year, month, day,hour, minute, second, and so forth. With the information, the user caneasily search music programs to which he or she has often listenedrecently. The accessed date and time is used when the forgoingreproduction history play list is created.

Highlight point represents position information of a highlight portion.In reality, the highlight point is composed of a start point and an endpoint. When a content is a music source, a highlight is for example abeginning part, a middle part, an end part, and a climax part of a musicprogram which features the entire music program. In addition, a climaxscene part is equivalent to a highlight. A highlight is a synonym ofdigest, climax, and most impressed part. Thus, when a representativepart of each track stored in the folder is reproduced, the user caneasily search a plurality of tracks for his or her desired music programwith the highlight point.

ISRC (International-Standard-Recording-Code) data represents aninternationally standardized identification code assigned to musicsoftware (program). The ISRC is a unique code assigned to each musicprogram recorded on an optical disc.

FIG. 21D shows the structure of reproduction frequency data.Reproduction frequency data is data which represents the reproductionfrequency of each track of each album stored in the HD recording andreproducing device 101. In other words, reproduction frequency data isdata which represents the number of reproduction times of each track.According to the embodiment of the present invention, reproductionfrequency data is composed of belonging folder number, track number, andnumber of reproduction times. In this example, reproduction frequencydata of music data of each track is sorted and stored in the order ofwhich music data has been most often reproduced. Thus, the user caneasily recognize reproduction frequency of music data of each track.Reproduction frequency data is used when the forgoing reproductionfrequency play list is created and managed.

Belonging folder number represents a folder number of a folder to whicha track belongs. Track number represents a track number of a track in analbum stored in a folder. Number of reproduction times represents thenumber of times of which music data of a track has been reproduced.

FIGS. 22A-22B are schematic diagrams for explaining a highlight of analbum and a highlight of each track of an album. In this example, eachtrack of album 1 stored in folder 1 (virtual slot 1) of the HD recordingand reproducing device 101 and each track of album 2 stored in folder 2(virtual slot 2) are shown. A highlight of an album is a highlight of ahighlight track (representative music program) of an album.

FIG. 22A shows highlights of tracks of album 1. As shown in FIG. 22A,album 1 is composed of tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Highlights of thetracks have been set at hatched positions shown in FIG. 22A. A highlighttrack of album 1 is track 3. Thus, a highlight of album 1 is a highlightof track 3.

FIG. 22B shows highlights of tracks of album 2. As shown in FIG. 22B,album 2 is composed of tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Highlights of thetracks have been set at hatched positions shown in FIG. 22B. A highlighttrack of album 2 is track 1. Thus, a highlight of album 2 is a highlightof track 3.

The dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention can perform an album highlight scan reproduction and a trackhighlight scan reproduction. In the album highlight scan reproduction,the dubbing apparatus successively reproduces highlights of tracks ofalbums in the order of folder numbers (in the order of virtual slotnumbers). In the track highlight scan reproduction, the dubbingapparatus reproduces highlights of tracks of albums in the order oftrack numbers of each album.

The dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention has three highlight registration modes. In the firstregistration mode, the dubbing apparatus registers a highlight with asingle key operation (hereinafter this mode is referred to asregistration mode 1). In the second registration mode, the dubbingapparatus allows the user to confirm a highlight to be registered inadvance (hereinafter this mode is referred to as registration mode 2).In the third registration mode, the dubbing apparatus allows the user toconfirm a highlight to be registered in advance and finely adjust it(hereinafter this mode is referred to as registration mode 3). Theseregistration mode may be switched with the operating device 304 of thesystem controller 301. Next, with reference to flow charts, highlightregistering operations and their processes corresponding to theseregistration modes will be described. In the following description, anexample of which a highlight of track 3 of album 1 stored in folder 1(virtual slot 1) of the HD recording and reproducing device 101 isregistered will be described.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart for explaining a highlight registering operationand its process corresponding to the registration mode 1. First of all,track 3 of album 1 is reproduced so as to register a highlight of track3 (at step S101).

While a portion to be registered as a highlight of track 3 is beingreproduced, the user presses a highlight key of the operating device 303of the system controller 301 (at step S102). As a result, information ofthe database shown in FIGS. 21A-21D is rewritten. In other words, track3 is recorded to the highlight track of the album data of folder number1 shown in FIG. 21B. In addition, a highlight point of the highlightdesignated at step S102 (namely, a start point and an end point of thehighlight designated at step S102) is recorded to a highlight point oftrack data of belonging slot number 1 and track number 3 (at step S103).In this example, position information of data which was being reproducedwhen the highlight key was pressed becomes a start point. Positioninformation of data which was being reproduced 10 seconds after thehighlight key was pressed becomes an end point. In other words, theduration of a music program registered as a highlight is 10 seconds.

In the forgoing example, position information of data which was beingreproduced 10 seconds after the highlight key was pressed becomes an endpoint. Alternatively, the user can freely set the duration of a musicprogram registered as a highlight.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart for explaining a highlight registering operationand a highlight registering process corresponding to the registrationmode 2. First of all, track 3 of album 1 is reproduced so as to registera highlight of track 3 (at step S111).

While a portion to be registered as the highlight of track 3 is beingreproduced, the user presses the highlight key of the operating device303 of the system controller 301 (at step S112). Thus, a signalcorresponding to the operation of the highlight key is transmitted fromthe operating device 303 to the controller 302. When the controller 302has received the signal, the controller 302 transmits a signal whichrepresents that the highlight key has been pressed to the controller 105of the HD recording and reproducing device 101. At step S112, thecontroller 105 which has received the signal stores a highlight point ofthe designated highlight (namely, a start point and an end point of thehighlight) to the storing device of the controller 105. In this example,position information of data which was being reproduced when thehighlight key was pressed becomes a start point. In addition, positioninformation of data which was being reproduced 10 seconds after thehighlight key was pressed becomes an end point. In other words, theduration of a music program registered as a highlight is 10 seconds.

Thereafter, corresponding to the start point and the end point of thehighlight, which have been stored in the storing device of thecontroller 105, the controller 105 reads audio data from the HDD 104. Asa result, the highlight which has been set at step S102 is repeatedlyreproduced (hereinafter this operation is referred to as rehearsalreproduction) (at step S113).

Thereafter, the user determines whether or not the highlight which hasbeen rehearsal reproduced at step S113 is a highlight which he or shewants to register (at step S114). When the highlight reproduced as therehearsal reproduction is user's desired highlight, he or she pressesthe enter key. As a result, information of the database shown in FIGS.21A-21D is rewritten. In other words, track 3 is recorded to thehighlight track of the album data of folder number 1 shown in FIG. 21B.In addition, the highlight point of the highlight designated at stepS112 (namely, the start point and the end point of the highlight, whichhave been designated at step S112) are recorded to the highlight pointof the track data of track number 3 (at step S115).

When the highlight reproduced at step S113 is not user's desiredhighlight, he or she presses the cancel key. As a result, music data oftrack 3 of album 1 is reproduced from the beginning.

Alternatively, when the user presses the end key or the cancel key, thehighlight registering operation may be cancelled in the middle. In theforgoing example, when the highlight reproduced at step S113 is notuser's desired highlight, he or she presses the cancel key. As a result,music data of the track is reproduced from the beginning. Alternatively,music data may be reproduced from a portion several seconds before thestart point which has been set at step S112.

In the forgoing example, position information of data which was beingreproduced 10 seconds after the highlight key was pressed becomes theend point. Alternatively, the user can freely set the duration of amusic program registered as a highlight.

In the forgoing example, the start point and the end point are stored inthe storing device of the controller 105 of the HD recording andreproducing device 101. Alternatively, audio data designated with thesepoints may be stored in the storing device. In other words, therehearsal reproduction may be performed by reading audio data from thestoring device of the controller 105.

As was described above, before a highlight is registered, the dubbingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention canperform the rehearsal reproduction. Thus, the user can check whether ornot his or her desired portion has been set as a highlight. When user'sdesired portion has not been set as a highlight, he or she can reproducethe same track and register a highlight. Thus, the user can easily set ahighlight again.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart for explaining a highlight registering operationand a highlight registering process corresponding to the registrationmode 3. First of all, track 3 of album 1 is reproduced so as to registera highlight of track 3 (at step S121).

While a beginning portion to be registered as a highlight of track 3 isbeing reproduced, the user presses the highlight key or the push buttonof the jog key of the operating device 303 of the system controller 301(at step S122). As a result, a signal corresponding to the operation ofthe highlight key or the push button switch of the jog key istransmitted from the operating device 303 to the controller 302. Thecontroller 302, which has received the signal, transmits a signal whichinforms the HD recording and reproducing device 101 that the highlightkey or the push button switch of the jog key has been pressed to thecontroller 302. When the controller 302 has received the signal, thecontroller 302 transmits the signal to the controller 105 of the HDrecording and reproducing device 101. The controller 105 which hasreceived the signal stores a start point of the highlight designated atstep S122 to the storing device of the controller 105. In this example,data which was being reproduced when the highlight key or the pushbutton switch of the jog key was pressed becomes the start point.

At step S103, audio data designated with the start point stored in thestoring device of the controller 302 and a point several seconds latertherefrom (namely, a hatched portion of a track shown in FIG. 26A) isrehearsal reproduced (at step S123). According to the embodiment of thepresent invention, audio data designated with the start point stored inthe storing device and a point five seconds later thereafter isrehearsal reproduced.

Thereafter, with an FF key and an FR key, the user positions the cursorat his or her desired portion of hour, minute, second, and framedisplayed on the display device 303. Thereafter, by turning the jog key,the user sets his or her desired value (at step S124).

Thereafter, the user listens to audio data which is being rehearsalreproduced and checks whether or not the start point of the highlighthas been set at his or her desired position (at step S125). When thestart point has not been set at his or her desired position, he or shepresses the cancel key. As a result, the flow returns to step S123. Atstep S123, audio data designated with the start point stored in thestoring device of the controller 302 and a point several seconds latertherefrom (namely, the hatched portion of the track shown in FIG. 26A)is rehearsal reproduced.

When the start point has been set at his or her desired position, he orshe presses the enter key. As a result, audio data is reproduced frompoint A (at step s126). In addition, a prompt “End point ?” which asksthe user to designate an end portion of the highlight is displayed onthe display device 303 of the system controller 201 (at step S127).

When the end portion to be registered as the highlight has beenreproduced, the user presses the highlight key or the push button key ofthe jog key of the operating device 303 (at step S128). As a result, asignal corresponding to the operation of the highlight key or the pushbutton key of the jog key is transmitted from the operating device 303to the controller 302. When the controller 302 has received the signal,the controller 302 transmits a signal which informs the HD recording andreproducing device 101 that the highlight key or the push button key ofthe jog key has been pressed to the controller 105 of the HD recordingand reproducing device 101. The controller 105, which has received thesignal, stores the end point of the highlight, which has been designatedat step S128, to the storing device of the controller 105. In thisexample, position information of data which was being reproduced whenthe highlight key or the push button key of the jog key was pressedbecomes an end point.

Thereafter, audio data designated with the start point stored in thestoring device of the controller 105 and a point several seconds earliertherefrom (namely, a hatched portion of a track shown in FIG. 26B) isrehearsal reproduced (at step S129). According to the embodiment of thepresent invention, audio data designated with the start point stored inthe storing device and a point five seconds later therefrom is rehearsalreproduced.

Thereafter, with the FF key and the FR key, the user positions thecursor at his or her desired portion of hour, minute, second, and framedisplayed on the display device 303. Thereafter, by turning the jog key,the user sets his or her desired value (at step S130).

Thereafter, the user listens to audio data which is being rehearsalreproduced and checks whether or not the end point of the highlight hasbeen set at his or her desired position (at step S131). When the endpoint of the highlight has been set at his or her desired position, theuser presses the cancel key. As a result, the flow returns to step S130.At step S130, audio data designated with the start point stored in thestoring device of the controller 105 and a point several seconds earliertherefrom (namely, the hatched portion of the track shown in FIG. 26B)is rehearsal reproduced.

When the end point of the highlight has been set at the desiredposition, the user presses the enter key. As a result, information ofthe database shown in FIGS. 21A-21D is rewritten. In other words, track3 is recorded to the highlight track of the slot of slot number 1. Inaddition, the highlight point which has been finely adjusted at stepsS124 and S130 (namely, an end point and a start point shown in FIG. 26C)is recorded to the highlight point of the track data of belonging slotnumber 3 (at step S132).

In the forgoing example, the start point is stored in the storing deviceof the controller 105. Alternatively, audio data designated with thestart point and a point several seconds later therefrom may be stored inthe storing device. In other words, the rehearsal reproduction may beperformed by reading audio data from the storing device of thecontroller 105.

In the forgoing example, the end point is stored in the storing deviceof the controller 105. Alternatively, audio data designated with the endpoint and a point several seconds earlier therefrom may be stored in thestoring device. In other words, the rehearsal reproduction may beperformed by reading audio data from the storing device of thecontroller 105.

As was described above, the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention allows the user to finely correctboth a start point and an end point of a highlight to be registered. Inaddition, besides the start point, the user can freely set the endpoint. Thus, the user can freely set the duration of a highlight.

In the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, with the forgoing three registration modes, when a highlightof a track is registered, the registered track is automatically assignedas a highlight track of the album. In other words, whenever a highlightof a track is registered, a highlight track of the album isautomatically updated.

In the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, with highlights registered in the forgoing manner, the usercan search for his or her desired album or track. In addition, thedubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present inventionhas three searching modes: a first searching mode for searching aplurality of albums for a desired album—this mode is referred to asalbum searching mode, a second searching mode for searching a selectedalbum (current album) for a desired track—this mode is referred to astrack searching mode, and a third searching mode for searching aplurality of albums for a desired track—this mode is referred to asalbum & track searching mode. The album & track searching mode is acombination of the album searching mode and the track searching mode.

FIGS. 27A-27B are schematic diagrams showing an image of a searchingprocess corresponding to the album & track searching mode of the dubbingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.27A-27B show the case that a track which the user desires is a track ofalbum 3 stored in folder 3 (virtual slot 3).

To find user's desired track, the album highlight scan reproduction isperformed. In reality, as shown in FIG. 27A, a highlight of a highlighttrack of album 1, a highlight of a highlight track of album 2, and soforth are successively reproduced.

When user's desired album has been found in the album highlight scanreproduction, the track highlight scan reproduction is performed. Inreality, as shown in FIG. 27B, a highlight of track 1, a highlight oftrack 2, a highlight of track 3, and so forth are successivelyreproduced.

In the forgoing process, user's desired track can be found from aplurality of albums. When user's desired track has been found, audiodata is reproduced from the track. In addition, with the play listregistration key of the system controller 301, the user can register hisor her desired track which has been found to a play list.

FIGS. 28 and 29 are flow charts for explaining a highlight searchingoperation and a highlight searching process performed by the dubbingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

After the highlight searching process is started, the user presses themenu key and the display device 303 displays a search menu screen (atstep S141).

Thereafter, the user selects his or her desired searching mode from themenu displayed on the search menu screen—namely, “album searching mode”,“track searching mode”, or “album & track searching mode” (at stepS142).

When the user has selected the “album searching mode” as his or herdesired searching mode, he or she presses the highlight key of thesystem controller 301 (at step S143) and the album highlight scanreproduction starts (at step S144). As a result, highlights of albumsare reproduced in the order of folder numbers (the order of virtual slotnumbers).

Thereafter, the user listens to the highlights of the albums reproducedby the control terminal 110 and checks whether or not audio data of hisor her desired album is being reproduced (at step S145). When audio dataof user's desired album is being reproduced, he or she presses the Yeskey or the enter key of the system controller 301. As a result, audiodata is reproduced from the first track of the album (at step S146).When audio data of use's desired album is not being reproduced, he orshe listens to a highlight of the next album. When the user wants tostop the album highlight scan reproduction or the highlight of his orher desired album has been reproduced, with the No key or the cancelkey, he or she can stop the album highlight scan reproduction.

When the user has selected the “track searching mode” as his or herdesired searching mode at step S142, with a numeric key of the systemcontroller 301, he or she selects his or her desired track of thecurrent album. Thereafter, the user presses the highlight key of thesystem controller 301 (at step S147) and the track highlight scanreproduction starts (at step S148). As a result, highlights of tracks ofthe album (current album) selected at step S147 are reproduced in theorder of track numbers.

Thereafter, the user listens to highlights of tracks of the albumreproduced by the HD recording and reproducing device 101 and checkwhether or not his or her desired track is being reproduced (at stepS149). When audio data of his or her desired track is being reproduced,the user presses the Yes key or the enter key of the system controller301. As a result, audio data of the desired track is reproduced from thebeginning (at step S150). When audio data of user's desired track is notbeing reproduced, he or she listens to a highlight of the next track.When the user wants to stop the track highlight scan reproduction atstep S149 or a highlight of his or her desired track has beenreproduced, with the No key or the cancel key, he or she can stop thetrack highlight scan reproduction.

When the user has selected the “album & track searching mode” as his orher desired searching mode at step S142, the user presses the highlightkey of the system controller 301 (at step S151) . As a result,highlights of albums are successively reproduced in the order of foldernumbers (the order of virtual slot numbers).

Thereafter, the user listens to highlights of albums reproduced by theHD recording and reproducing device 101 and check whether or not ahighlight of his or her desired album is being reproduced (at stepS153). When a highlight of user's desired album is being reproduced, heor she presses the Yes key or the enter key of the system controller 301and the track highlight scan reproduction starts. As a result, audiodata of tracks of user's desired album is successively reproduced in theorder of track numbers (at step S154). When audio data of user's desiredalbum has not been reproduced, he or she listens to a highlight of thenext album. When the user wants to stop the album highlight scanreproduction or the highlight of the desired album has been reproducedat step S153, with the No key or the cancel key, the user may stop thealbum highlight scan reproduction.

Thereafter, the user listens to highlights of tracks of the albumselected at step S153 and checks whether or not audio data of thedesired track is being reproduced (at step S155). When audio data of thedesired track is being reproduced, with the Yes key or the enter key ofthe system controller 301, audio data of user's desired track isreproduced from the beginning (at step S156). When audio data of user'sdesired track is not being reproduced, the user listens to audio data ofthe next track. When the user wants to stop the track highlight scanreproduction or the highlight of his or her desired track has beenreproduced at step S145, with the cancel key, he or she may stop thetrack highlight scan reproduction.

Thereafter, the user decides whether to register an album or a tracksearched in the album searching mode, the track searching mode, or thealbum & track searching mode to a play list (at step S157). When theuser does not want to register the album or track to a play list, theoperation and process are finished.

When the user wants to register the album or track to a play list, he orshe presses the play list registration key of the operating device 304of the system controller 301 (at step S158). As a result, the album ortrack is registered to a play list. At the point, a prompt “recorddestination play list ?” which asks the user to select a folder numberof a folder (namely, a slot number of a virtual slot) to which a playlist is registered is displayed on the display device 303 of the systemcontroller 301 (at step S159).

Thereafter, with the operating device 304 of the system controller 301,the user selects a folder number of a folder (a slot number of a virtualslot) of the HD recording and reproducing device 101 (at step S160). Asa result, a play list is created in the folder (virtual slot) selectedat step S160. Alternatively, a play list created in the folder (virtualfolder) selected at step S160 is updated. In addition, the databaseshown in FIGS. 21A-21D is restructured (at step S161). As a result, theplay list has been registered.

Next, a track editing process performed by the dubbing apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.As the track editing process, the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention can perform an erase editingprocess, a divide editing process, a move editing process, and a combineediting process. Next, with reference to FIGS. 30A-34C, these editingprocesses will be described. In FIGS. 30A-34C, each illustrationsurrounded by a solid line represents tracks of an album which has notbeen edited. In contrast, each illustration surrounded by a dotted linerepresents tracks of an album which has been edited.

In the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, unless a highlight of a track has been set, first severalseconds (for example, 10 seconds) of the track is set as a highlightthereof. As a result, when the track highlight scan reproduction isperformed, the user can listen to highlights of all tracks. In addition,when a track has been divided, highlights of the divided portions areautomatically set.

In addition, in the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, when there is no highlight track (representativemusic program) of an album, track 1 is set as a highlight track. As aresult, when the album highlight scan reproduction is performed, theuser can listen to highlights of all albums. In addition, when ahighlight track of an album has been erased, a highlight of the albumcan be always left.

With reference to FIGS. 30A-30C, an erase editing process of the dubbingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed. In this example, it is assumed that an album is composed oftracks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

FIG. 30A is a schematic diagram showing an image of tracks of an albumfor which the erase editing process has not been performed. In FIG. 30A,tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are music programs A, B, C, D, and E,respectively. Highlights of these tracks have been set at positionsrepresented with hatched portions shown in FIG. 30A. A highlight trackof the album is track 3.

FIG. 30B is a schematic diagram showing an image of tracks-after anerase editing process has been performed for a non-highlight track. Inthis example, FIG. 30B shows an image of which the erase editing processhas been performed for track 2 (music program B) shown in FIG. 30A. Asshown in FIG. 30B, when track 2 (music program B) shown in FIG. 30A hasbeen erased, track numbers of tracks 3 to 5 of music programs are moveddown. As a result, music programs C, D, and E become tracks 2, 3, and 4shown in FIG. 30B. In addition, track 2 (music program C) becomes ahighlight track of the album. In addition, as was described above,although track numbers of music programs C, D, and E are changed, musicprogram C as a highlight track of the program is not changed.

FIG. 30C is a schematic diagram showing an image of tracks of which anerase editing process has been performed for a highlight track. In thisexample, track 3 (music program C) shown in FIG. 30A is a highlighttrack. As shown in FIG. 30C, when track 3 (music program C) as ahighlight track has been erased, track numbers 4 and 5 are moved down.As a result, music programs D and E become tracks 3 and 4, respectively,as shown in FIG. 30B. In addition, since the highlight track of thealbum shown in FIG. 30A has been erased, track 1 (music program A)becomes a highlight track of the album.

With reference to FIGS. 31A-31C, a divide editing process performed bythe dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention will be described. In this example, it is assumed that analbum is composed of tracks 1, 2, 3, and 4.

FIG. 31A shows an image of the tracks of the album before the divideediting process has not been performed. In FIG. 31A, tracks 1, 2, 3, and4 are music programs A, B, C, and D, respectively. Highlights of thetracks have been set at positions represented with hatched portionsshown in FIG. 31A. In FIG. 31A, track 3 is a highlight track of thealbum.

FIG. 31B shows an image of the tracks of the album after the divideediting process has been performed for a non-highlight track. In thisexample, FIG. 31B shows an image of the tracks after the divide editingprocess has been performed for track 2 (music program B) shown in FIG.31A. As shown in FIG. 31B, when track 2 (music program B) has beendivided into two portions, the first half portion (music program B₁) ofthe two divided portions becomes track 2. The second half portion (musicprogram B₂) of the two divided portions becomes track 3. Track numbersof music programs C and D are moved up. As a result, music programs Cand D become tracks 4 and 5, respectively. In the dubbing apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention, since a highlightof a track is kept after the track editing process has been performed, ahighlight of track 2 (music program B) shown in FIG. 31A is kept as ahighlight of the first half portion (music program B₁) of the dividedtrack. On the other hand, a highlight of the second half portion (musicprogram B₂) of the divided track is set at a beginning portion. In thiscase, music program C as a highlight of the album is not changed.

FIG. 31C shows an image of the tracks after the divide editing processhas been performed for a highlight track. In this example, track 3(music program C) shown in FIG. 31A is a highlight track. As shown inFIG. 31C, when track 3 (music program C) shown in FIG. 31A has beendivided into two portions, the first half portion (music program C₁) ofthe divided track becomes track 3. The second half portion (musicprogram C₂) of the divided track becomes track 4. The track number ofmusic program D is moved up and becomes track 5. In the dubbingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, since ahighlight of a track is kept after the track editing process has beenperformed, a highlight of track 3 shown in FIG. 31A is kept as ahighlight of the first half portion (music program C₁) of the dividedtrack. On the other hand, a highlight of the second half portion (musicportion C₂) of the divided track is set at a beginning portion. Musicprogram C₁ becomes the highlight of the album.

In the forgoing example, the first half portion (music program C₁) ofthe divided music program C contains a highlight. However, when thesecond half portion (music C₂) of music C contains a highlight, abeginning portion of music C₁ is newly set as a highlight. The highlightof music program C₂ is the highlight of music program C for which thedivide editing process has not been performed.

FIGS. 32A-32D and FIGS. 33A-33D are schematic diagrams for explaining amove editing process of the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 32A-32D, amove editing process in the case that a track to be moved is not ahighlight track will be described. With reference to FIGS. 33A-33D, amove editing process in the case that a track to be moved is a highlighttrack will be described. It is assumed that an album from which a trackis moved (hereinafter this album is referred to as source album) iscomposed of tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and that an album to which a trackis moved (hereinafter this album is referred to as destination album) iscomposed of tracks 1, 2, 3, and 4. First of all, a move editing processin the case that a track which is moved is not a highlight track of thesource album will be described.

FIG. 32A shows an image of tracks of the source album for which the moveediting process has not been performed. FIG. 32B shows an image oftracks of the destination album for which the move editing process hasnot been performed. Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the source album aremusic programs A, B, C, D, and E, respectively. Tracks 1, 2, 3, and 4 ofthe destination album are music programs F, G, H, and I, respectively.In addition, highlights of the tracks of the source album and thedestination album have been set at hatched positions shown in FIGS. 32Aand 30B. A highlight track of the source album is track 3, whereas ahighlight track of the destination album is track 1.

FIG. 32C shows an image of tracks of the source album in the case thatthe move editing process has been performed for a non-highlight track.FIG. 32D shows an image of tracks of the destination album in the casethat the move editing process has been performed for a non-highlighttrack. In this example, the case that track 4 (music program D) of thesource album is moved to the destination album and inserted as track 2of the destination album will be described.

As shown in FIG. 32C, when track 4 (music program D) has been moved,since track 4 (music program E) is lost from the source album, the tracknumber of music program E is moved down and becomes track 4. In thiscase, the highlight track of the source album is still track 3 (musicprogram C).

As shown in FIG. 32D, when track 4 (music program D) shown in FIG. 32Ahas been inserted as track 2 of the destination album, the track numbersof music programs G, H, and I are moved up. As a result, music programsG, H, and I become tracks 3, 4, and 5, respectively. In this example,although the track is moved, since the track number of music program Fas a representative music program of the destination album is notchanged, the track number of the highlight of the destination album isnot changed. If the track number of a music program as a representativemusic program of the destination album is changed when a track is movedfrom the source album to the destination album, the track number of thehighlight will be changed. Next, the move editing process in the casethat a track which is moved is a highlight track will be described.

FIG. 33A shows an image of tracks of a source album in the case that themove editing process has not been performed for a highlight track. FIG.33B shows an image of tracks of a destination album in the case that themove editing process has not been performed for a highlight track. Inthis example, it is assumed that tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the sourcealbum from which a track is moved are music programs A, B, C, D, and E,respectively, and that tracks of a destination album to which a track ismoved are music programs F, G, H, and I, respectively. Highlights of thetracks of the source album and the destination album have been set athatched positions shown in FIGS. 32A and 32B. A highlight track of thesource album is track 3, whereas a highlight track of the destinationalbum is track 1.

FIG. 33C shows an image of the tracks of the source album in the casethat the move editing process has been performed for a highlight track.FIG. 33D shows an image of the tracks of the destination album in thecase that the move editing process has been performed for a highlighttrack. In this example, the case that track 3 (music program C) of thesource album is moved to the destination album and inserted as track 2of the destination album will be described.

As shown in FIG. 33C, since track 3 (music program C) of the sourcealbum has been moved, the track number of music program E is moved downand becomes track 4. In addition, since track 3 (music program c) as thehighlight track has been lost, track 1 becomes a highlight track of thesource album.

As shown in FIG. 33D, since track 3 (music program C) of the sourcealbum has been moved, the track numbers of music programs G, H, and Iare moved up. As a result, music programs G, H, and I shown in FIG. 32Bbecome tracks 3, 4, and 5 shown in FIG. 32D, respectively. In this case,the highlight track of the destination album is still track 1 (musicprogram F).

With reference to FIGS. 34A-34C, a combine editing process of thedubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present inventionwill be described. In this example, it is assumed that an album iscomposed of tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

FIG. 34A shows an image of the tracks of the album in the case that thecombine editing process has been performed. It is assumed that tracks 1,2, 3, 4, and 5 are music programs A, B, C, D, and E, respectively.Highlights of the tracks have been set at hatched positions shown inFIG. 34A. A highlight track of the album is track 3.

FIG. 34B shows an image of the tracks in the case that the combineediting process has been performed for non-highlight tracks. FIG. 34Bshows the case that the combine editing process has been performed fortrack 4 (music program D) and track 5 (music program E) shown in FIG.34A. As shown in FIG. 34B, when the combine editing process has beenperformed, music programs D and E becomes track 4. According to theembodiment of the present invention, when two tracks are combined, ahighlight of a track having the lower track number becomes a highlightof the combined track. Thus, the highlight of track 4 (music program D)shown in FIG. 34A becomes the highlight of track 4 (music programs D andE) shown in FIG. 34B.

FIG. 34C shows an image of the tracks in the case that the combineediting process has been performed for a highlight track and anon-highlight track. FIG. 34C shows the case that the combining processhas been performed for track 2 (music program B) and track 3 (musicprogram C) shown in FIG. 34A. As shown in FIG. 34B, music programs B andC become track 2. In addition, track 2 becomes a highlight track. Whennon-highlight tracks are combined, a highlight of a track having thesmaller track number of the two tracks becomes a highlight of thecombined track. In contrast, when a highlight track and a non-highlighttrack are combined, a highlight of a highlight track becomes a highlightof the combined track. Thus, the highlight of track 3 (music program C)shown in FIG. 34A becomes a highlight of track 2 (music programs B andC) shown in FIG. 34C.

As was described above, in the dubbing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention, a highlight of an album and ahighlight of a track can be kept in the state before a track editingprocess has been performed.

As was described above, according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, in the HDD 104 of the HD recording and reproducing device101, folders corresponding to slots of the CD changer 1 are created.Audio data of albums loaded in the CD changer 1 is automatically storedin the folders. Thus, even if the user does not know the internalstructure of the HDD 104, he or she can easily store audio data ofalbums from the CD changer 1 to the HDD 104.

In addition, audio data of albums loaded in the CD changer 1 can bestored to the HDD 104 in such a manner that an image of the albums ismaintained. Thus, the user can intuitively know albums stored in the HDD104. As a result, the user can easily reproduce his or her desired musicprogram from the HDD 104.

In addition, play lists are also managed in the same manner as albums.In other words, each play list is managed as one album. Thus, albums andplay lists can be managed totally, not separately.

In addition, the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention has three searching modes: the album searching modefor successively reproducing highlights of albums and searching them fora desired album, the track searching mode for successively reproducinghighlights of tracks of a designated album and searching them for adesired track, and the album & track searching mode for successivelyreproducing highlights of albums, searching them for a desired album,successively reproducing highlights of tracks of a designated album, andsearching them for a desired track. Thus, the user can easily search aplurality of albums for his or her desired album. In addition, the usercan easily search a designated album stored in the HD recording andreproducing device 101 for his or her desired track. Moreover, the usercan easily search a plurality of albums stored in the HD recording andreproducing device 101 for his or her desired track.

In addition, the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention has the first registration mode for allowing the userto register a highlight with one key operation, the second registrationmode for allowing the user to rehearsal reproduce registered highlightsand register his or her desired highlight, and the third registrationmode for allowing the user to rehearsal reproduce a start point and anend point of his or her desired highlight, check them, finely adjustthem, and register the desired highlight. Thus, not only the user caneasily register a highlight, but he or she can check whether or not hisor her desired highlight has been registered and register the desiredhighlight. In addition, the user can finely adjust an area for ahighlight and a start point and an end point thereof.

In addition, when a highlight of a track is registered, a highlight ofan album is automatically updated. Thus, the user does not need to newlyregister a highlight of an album.

In addition, in the dubbing apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, when the album highlight scan reproduction, the trackhighlight scan reproduction, or both of them are performed, the user canintuitively and easily search a plurality of albums stored in the HDrecording and reproducing device 101 for his or her desired album, adesignated album stored therein for his or her desired track, or aplurality of album stored therein for his or her desired track.

In addition, when the track highlight scan reproduction is performed,since highlights of tracks of a designated album are successivelyreproduced, the user can easily and quickly search the designated albumfor his or her desired track.

In addition, when the album highlight scan reproduction is performed,since highlights of highlight tracks which are representative musicprograms of albums are successively reproduced, the user can easily andquickly search the albums for his or her desired album.

In addition, in the album & track searching mode, since highlights ofhighlight tracks which are representative music programs of albums aresuccessively reproduced, user's desired album is designated, highlightsof tracks of the designated album are successively reproduced, and thetracks are searched for his or her desired track, he or she can quicklysearch a plurality of albums for his or her desired track.

In addition, when the erase editing process, the divide editing process,the move editing process, or the combine editing process has beenperformed, since a highlight of each track and a highlight of each albumare neither lost, nor moved to different positions. Thus, after eachediting process has been performed, the user does not need to newlyregister highlights.

In addition, while listening to highlights of albums and tracks, theuser can search them for his or her desired album and track. Thus, theuser can easily search them for his or her desired album and track. Inaddition, the user can intuitively search them for his or her desiredalbum and track. In addition, even if the user does not know an albumname and a track name which he or she wants to search for, he or she caneasily search for them.

When an editing process is performed for a track of an album, a tracknumber of a highlight track of the album can be automatically updated.Thus, the user's operation performed for the editing process can bealleviated.

In addition, by selecting an album from a menu, selecting a track fromthe selected album, reproducing the selected track, and registering theselected track, the user can register a highlight without need to accessdeeper layers. Thus, the user can easily register a highlight.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been practicallydescribed, the present invention is not limited thereto. It should beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and variousother changes, omissions, and additions in the form and detail thereofmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

For example, according to the forgoing embodiment, music data is storedin the HDD 104. Alternatively, video data may be stored in the HDD 104.Alternatively, audio data may be stored in the HDD 104.

In addition, according to the forgoing embodiment, the present inventionis applied for the dubbing apparatus having the CD changer 1 and the HDrecording and reproducing device 101. However, it should be noted thatthe structure of the dubbing apparatus is not limited to such anexample. In other words, the present invention may be applied to adubbing apparatus having a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) changer playerand a HD recording and reproducing device, a dubbing apparatus having anMD (Mini Disc) changer player and a HD recording and reproducing device,and so forth.

In addition, according to the forgoing embodiment, music data is storedin the HD recording and reproducing device 101. Alternatively, videodata, audio data, and so forth may be stored in the HD recording andreproducing device 101.

In addition, according to the forgoing embodiment, the dubbing apparatushas a reproducing device which reproduces data from an optical disc.Alternatively, the dubbing apparatus may be a reproducing device whichreproduces data from another type of a recording medium. For example,the reproducing device may reproduce data from a magnetic tape such as amusic tape, a video tape, a DAT (Digital Audio Tape), or the like.Alternatively, the reproducing device may reproduce data from a magneticdisc such as a ZIP. In addition, the reproducing device may reproducedata from a non-volatile memory.

In addition, according to the forgoing embodiment, a pair of a foldername and an artist name and a pair of a track name and an artist nameare registered with the operating device 304 of the system controller301. However, the present invention is not limited to such a registeringmethod. In other words, when a recording medium stores characterinformation such as CD-TEXT, a folder/track name and an artist name maybe automatically registered corresponding to the character information.

In the forgoing embodiment, files recorded on the HDD 104 of the HDrecoding and reproducing device are managed corresponding to FAT.Alternatively, files may be managed corresponding to NTFS (NT FileSystem), HFS (Hierarchical File System), HFS Plus, or the like.

In addition, according to the forgoing embodiment, the CD changer 1, theHD recording and reproducing device 101, and the audio input and outputdevice 201 are controlled by the system controller 301. Alternatively,these devices may be controlled by a personal computer. In reality,software for controlling the CD changer 1, the HD recording andreproducing device 101, and the audio input and output device 201 isinstalled to the personal computer. These devices are connected to thepersonal computer through USB cables or the like. In such a structure,the dubbing apparatus is controlled through the personal computer.

According to the forgoing embodiment, data is transmitted and receivedbetween these devices through cables. Alternatively, data may bewirelessly transmitted and received between these devices.

In addition, according to the forgoing embodiment, besides music data,ISRC is also stored from the CD changer 1 to the HD recording andreproducing device 101. With ISRC, albums may be prevented from beingredundantly recoded. For example, by comparing an ISRC code of an albumreproduced by the CD changer 1 with an ISRC code stored in the HDrecording and reproducing device 101, it can be determined whether ornot an album to be recorded has been stored in the HD recording andreproducing device 101.

In addition, in the forgoing embodiment, as an interface for connectingthe system controller 301 and the CD changer 1, IEEE 1394 (iLink) may beused. Likewise, as an interface for connected the system controller 301and the HD recording and reproducing device 101 or an interface forconnecting the system controller 301 and the audio input and outputdevice 201, IEEE 1394 (iLink) may be used. As a result, even if themanufacturer of the system controller 301 is different from themanufacturer of each device, commands can be exchanged between thesystem controller 301 and each device.

In the dubbing apparatus according to the forgoing embodiment of thepresent invention, a pair of the HD recording and reproducing device 101and the audio input and output device 201, a pair of the HD recordingand reproducing device 101 and the system controller 301, or a set ofthe HD recording and reproducing device 101, the audio input and outputdevice 201, and the system controller 301 may be integrally structured.Alternatively, a pair of the CD reproducing device 1 and the audio inputand output device 201, a pair of the CD reproducing device 1 and thesystem controller 301, or a set of the CD reproducing device 1, theaudio input and output device 201, and the system controller 301 may beintegrally structured.

In addition, according to the forgoing embodiment, when a highlight of atrack of an album is newly registered, the track is automaticallyregistered as a highlight track of the album. Alternatively, the usermay freely set a highlight track with the operating device 304 of thesystem controller 301.

In addition, according to the forgoing embodiment, files are createdcorresponding to albums. Alternatively, files may be createdcorresponding to tracks. When files are created corresponding to tracks,files created with the same album are stored in one folder (virtualslot) and managed therewith.

As was described above, according to the present invention, while agroup is being searched for a representative program, a designatedprogram is being searched for a representative portion, a designatedgroup is being searched for a representative portion, a desired groupand a desired program can be found. Thus, the user can easily find hisor her desired group or program from a plurality of groups.

In addition, when an editing process is performed for a program of agroup, a representative program number of the group can be automaticallyupdated. Thus, the operation performed for the editing process by theuser can be alleviated.

1. An editing apparatus, comprising: storing means for storing aplurality of tracks, wherein the plurality of tracks stored in thestoring means are managed as a playlist; management information storingmeans for storing management information and information identifying arepresentative highlight, the representative highlight being a highlightof a representative track from the playlist; operating means fordesignating an editing process for a designated track from the playlist;and updating means for changing the information identifying therepresentative highlight when the editing process has been performed forthe designated track from the playlist by the operating means.
 2. Theediting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the editing processis an erasing process for the designated track from the playlist.
 3. Theediting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the editing processis a dividing process for the designated track from the playlist.
 4. Theediting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the editing processis a combining process for the designated track from the playlist. 5.The editing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the editingprocess is a moving process for the designated track from the playlist.6. An editing method, comprising the steps of: storing a plurality oftacks, wherein the plurality of tracks are managed as a playlist;storing management information and information identifying arepresentative highlight, the representative highlight being a highlightof a representative track from the playlist; designating an editingprocess for a designated track from the playlist; and changing theinformation identifying the representative highlight when the editingprocess has been performed for the designated track from the playlist.7. The editing method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the editingprocess is an erasing process for the designated track from theplaylist.
 8. The editing method as set forth in claim 6, wherein theediting process is a dividing process for the designated track from theplaylist.
 9. The editing method as set forth in claim 6, wherein theediting process is a combining process for the designated track from theplaylist.
 10. The editing method as set forth in claim 6, wherein theediting process is a moving process for the designated track from theplaylist.
 11. An editing apparatus, comprising: a storage deviceoperable to store a plurality of tracks, wherein the plurality of tracksstored in the storage device are managed as a playlist, and to storemanagement information and information identifying a representativehighlight, the representative highlight being a highlight of arepresentative track from the playlist; an operating device operable todesignate an editing process for a designated track from the playlist;and an update device operable to change the information identifying therepresentative highlight when the editing process has been performed forthe designated track from the playlist by the operating means.
 12. Theediting apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the editing processis an erasing process for the designated track from the playlist. 13.The editing apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the editingprocess is a dividing process for the designated track from theplaylist.
 14. The editing apparatus as set forth in claim 11, whereinthe editing process is a combining process for the designated track fromthe playlist.
 15. The editing apparatus as set forth in claim 11,wherein the editing process is a moving process for the designated trackfrom the playlist.
 16. A computer-readable medium encoded withinstructions that, when executed, perform a method comprising acts of:storing a plurality of tracks, wherein the plurality of tracks aremanaged as a playlist; storing management information and informationidentifying a representative highlight, the representative highlightbeing a highlight of a representative track from the playlist;designating an editing process for a designated track from the playlist;and changing the information identifying the representative highlightwhen the editing process has been performed for the designated trackfrom the playlist.
 17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, whereinthe editing process is an erasing process for the designated track fromthe playlist.
 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein theediting process is a dividing process for the designated track from theplaylist.
 19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein theediting process is a combining process for the designated track from theplaylist.
 20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein theediting process is a moving process for the designated track from theplaylist.